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March 7, 2012

Diamond Border Shawl, the English version

This shawl is knitted top-down with 4 increases on each RS row. The central part of the shawl is worked in stockimette stitch for maximum warmth and easyness, while the edge is woorked in a simple lace stitch that creartes large diamonds.The original shawl was knittied with three balls of a nondescript cheap merino stash yarn from a market stall, a fingering chainette witha delicately heathered
coloring and a velvety feel, which unfortunately didn't block well. To work the shawl you will need about 600 meters or 660 yards of fingering or sock yarn in a single color or in two colors (at least 400 meters/440 yards in one color and 200 meters/220 yards in the other). If you have more yarn you can make the shawl bigger by widening the lace border by working more repetitions of the A chart.Pay attention to the way you work the fist stitch in every row: it muust be kitted, not slipped, to grant maximum elasticity to the shawl and an easy blocking.
Continue reading the post for the pattern.

With Color A c.o. 2 sts with your favorite method. Work these two sts in garter sttich (k all rows), making sure you are knitting the first st too, for 8 rows (4 garter ridges).
In the next row work as follows:

k 2, rotate the knitting 90° to the right, yo, pick up and knit 1 st from the side edge, yo, pick up and knit 1 st from the edge, yo, pick up and knit 2 sts, yo, pick up and knit 1 st from the edge, yo, rotate the knitting 90° to the right, pick up and knit 2 sts from the cast-on edge. 12 sts on the needle.

In the next row work as follows:

k2, p4 place marker
(il will mark the center of the shawl and will be in place to the last row), p4, k2.

Row 2 (WS): k2, p to last 2 sts, slipping the marker as you come to it, k2, turn.

Repeat these 2 rows for a total of 69 times, Use a locking stitch marker to keep track of the number od rows you have knitted (i moved it up every 20 rows). In each of the yo column there will be 69 + 1 yos.Worl one more row 1(RS). If you are using two colors, break off color A and join color B,
if you are using a single color, ignore this instruction.

Click to see the charts in full res

Watch out! The lace stitch diagrams start with a WS row. The first row in these two charts is always a WS purled row. A *.pdf version of the charts is available here.

After joining color B, if you are working with two colors, work chart A twice, then work chart B once. B.o. all sts loosely, preferably with the suspendended method.

Blocking

Block the shawl as usual, hide the yarn tails only after blocking is complete. The blocking procedure will have to be repeated each time you wash the shawl